Housing Specialist Certification Training

The Housing Specialist Training is designed to train individuals to outreach and engage people experiencing homelessness, assisting them to attain housing and providing supportive services to maintain permanent housing. Research from the Housing First Model indicates that assisting individuals access and sustain permanent, affordable housing increases the likelihood of continued engagement in mental health services and a reduction in the use of substance.

The training is a comprehensive all-encompassing housing services from Unhoused to Housed with an emphasis on clinical collaboration with multidisciplinary teams across the continuum of care and community engagement.  It is unique as it infuses the whole-person care model which involves working closely with clinicians and collaborative case management to acquire housing and supportive services. It requires that each participant meet the requirements outlined in the competency checklist which confirms competencies have been achieved and mastered to qualify for certification. The training is led by experienced instructors that have over 20 years’ experience in working within multidisciplinary behavioral health care teams providing housing services.

This program is intended to provide the knowledge and competencies needed to deliver peer housing services over 34 hours total classroom/live webinar training and 9 hours of coaching sessions.

After attending this training, participants will have received training on the following competency modules:

• Wellness and Recovery Model
• Identify & Screen
• Unhoused Individuals
• Learn to Navigate the LA County Coordinated Entry System (CES)
• Steps to Secure Permanent Housing
• Tenant Rights / Housing Rights
• Housing Retention Services
• Ethical/Professional Boundaries
• Communication & Advocacy Skills
• Case Management Skills
• Integrated Care Interventions and Linkage
• Management of Independent Living Skills
• Managing Crisis Situations
• Dissemination of Resources

To request a private cohort training for your agency, please contact us at PCTI@pacificclinics.org